Where are coffee beans from when import papers are missing?

The Yuecheng District Market Supervision Bureau of Shaoxing penalized an internet-famous coffee shop for using imported "ETHIOPIA Guji G1" coffee beans lacking Chinese labels and proof of legal origin. The shop was fined 25,000 yuan, and the beans were confiscated.

Inspectors also found the store selling "Lamarzocoo" coffee machines and "Victoria Arduino" grinders without Chinese labels. The case highlights compliance risks for specialty cafés: whether beans are self-roasted or externally sourced, operators need food business licenses and product qualification inspection reports under the Food Safety Law.

Recently, the Yuecheng District Market Supervision Bureau of Shaoxing City investigated and penalized an internet-famous coffee shop for using imported coffee beans without Chinese labels and failing to provide proof of legal origin, and also for selling coffee equipment without Chinese labels. The shop was ultimately fined 25,000 yuan and the related products were confiscated. This case reveals the compliance risks commonly faced by specialty coffee shops in purchasing and using coffee beans: whether self-roasted or externally sourced, coffee bean raw materials need corresponding food business or production licenses and product qualification inspection reports. As market supervision intensifies, coffee operators urgently need to self-check risks and ensure lawful and compliant operations.

Recently, the Yuecheng District Market Supervision Bureau of Shaoxing City handled a case in accordance with the law involving an internet-famous coffee shop that illegally sold and used imported coffee beans without a legal source.

According to Shaoxing Evening News, the Yuecheng District Market Supervision Bureau conducted an enforcement inspection of the internet-famous coffee shop based on relevant leads. It was found that the "ETHIOPIA Guji G1" coffee beans being used in the shop had no Chinese labels, and the shop could not provide relevant materials proving the legal source of the coffee beans. In addition, the shop also illegally sold "Lamarzocoo" coffee machines and "Victoria Arduino" grinders without Chinese labels or placards.

In accordance with the Zhejiang Province Anti-Smuggling Comprehensive Governance Regulations and the Food Safety Law of the People's Republic of China, the Yuecheng District Market Supervision Bureau imposed an administrative penalty on the party involved, fining them 25,000 yuan and confiscating the coffee beans.

The report pointed out that the "ETHIOPIA Guji G1" coffee beans used by the coffee shop involved had no Chinese labels and could not provide proof of legal source. If the product does not belong to imported food, then it means these coffee beans are unlabeled and uncertified products: no manufacturer name, no manufacturer address, and no production hygiene license code.

If the product belongs to imported food, it must have Chinese labels. Any unit or individual dealing in imported goods shall obtain or copy proof of the legal source of the imported goods and establish a system of documentary archives as well as purchase and sales records. The proof of legal source of imported goods shall be kept for no less than two years.

Article 97 of the Food Safety Law of the People's Republic of China stipulates that imported prepackaged food and food additives shall have Chinese labels; if an instruction manual is required by law, there shall also be a Chinese instruction manual. Labels and instruction manuals shall comply with the provisions of this Law and other relevant laws and administrative regulations of our country and the requirements of national food safety standards, and shall state the place of origin of the food as well as the name, address, and contact information of the domestic agent. If prepackaged food has no Chinese labels or Chinese instruction manual, or if the labels or instruction manual do not comply with the provisions, it shall not be imported.

Regarding merchant sales, Article 9 of the Measures for the Supervision and Administration of Food Safety in the Circulation Links provides: "Food operators are prohibited from dealing in the following foods: (12) imported prepackaged food without Chinese labels or Chinese instruction manual, or whose Chinese labels or Chinese instruction manual do not comply with the provisions of Article 66 of the Food Safety Law."

According to the Product Quality Law of the People's Republic of China, imported products sold on the domestic market must have Chinese markings. Therefore, in addition to prepackaged food and food additives, other non-food commodities must also have Chinese labels. Selling without Chinese labels is an illegal act.

A relevant responsible person from the Yuecheng District Market Supervision Bureau said: "Many small coffee shop operators attract consumers with the claim of 'coffee ground from coffee beans imported from a certain country,' but the channels for imported coffee beans are chaotic, operators have weak awareness of obtaining certificates and invoices, and there are even illegal acts such as false advertising and trademark infringement." The person also said that the Market Supervision Bureau will continue to crack down hard to clean up food safety and false advertising chaos in the coffee industry and safeguard the lawful rights and interests of consumers.

In specialty coffee shops, the problem of coffee sources without proper qualifications is very common. One is the situation in the above case where there are no corresponding labels; coffee shop owners may use coffee beans roasted in-house or provided by an acquaintance who is a roaster, without complete product labels. The other situation is that coffee beans purchased externally are roasted by the coffee shop itself, rather than having complete food production qualifications.

According to China's food laws and regulations, the coffee bean raw materials used by coffee shops need a food business license/food production license, and the production enterprise needs a production license and product qualification inspection report. The above two problems are common operational risks for coffee shops. Recently, market supervision departments are strengthening supervision and inspection of the food industry, and operators are advised to self-check risks.

Image source: Internet

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The above content is compiled by CoffeeHunters, a coffee news website.